Rotatable bipolar phased magnetic locking system for door

Abstract

A magnetic entry system utilizes opposing polar magnets. At least one of the magnets is rotatable between a first position in which poles of the magnets attract and a second position in which poles of the magnets repel. The magnets are positioned with respect to one another such that the magnets must be pulled apart along a line of travel that is generally normal to planar opposing surfaces of the mangets.

1 . In combination with an entry system, the entry system including 
 a door, and    a frame housing the door    improvements for locking the entry system, said improvements including    (a) a first magnet having at least one north pole and one south pole;    (b) a second magnet having at least one north pole and one south pole;    (c) apparatus for rotating at least one of said magnets to move said one of said magnets with respect to the other of said magnets between at least two operative positions    (i) a first unlocked operative position in which said magnets repel each other, and    (ii) a second locked operative position in which said magnets attract each other.    
   
   
       2 . A method of locking an entry system, the entry system including 
 a door, and    a frame housing the door,    the door moving between a first closed position and a second open position and moving in a selected direction of travel when moving from said closed position to said open position,    the method comprising the steps of    (a) mounting in said frame a first magnet having    (i) at least one north pole and one south pole,    (ii) a face;    (b) mounting in said door a second magnet having    (i) at least one north pole and one south pole,    (ii) a face,    said first and second magnets being mounted such that when said door is in said first closed position,    (i) said faces of said magnets are adjacent one another and are generally oriented normal to said selected direction of travel, and    (ii). at least said first magnet is rotatable between a first unlocked position in which said first and second magnets repel one another and a second locked position in which said first and second magnets attract one another;    (c) moving said door to said closed position; and,    (d) moving said first magnet to said second locked position.